Kaipara; or, experiences of a settler in North New Zealand

Book excerpt: On the second day of July 1883, the writer of this book, P. W. Barlow, in company with his wife, six children, a servant girl, and a full-rigged sailing ship, arrived at the port of Auckland. Their voyage had occupied one hundred and six days, and everyone concerned was mightily sick of it. Barlow is a civil engineer by profession, and having for some time finding it very difficult to obtain employment in the old country, rejoiced in the prospect of getting work in New Zealand in connection with a land company, who were the owners of a large tract of land—500,000 acres—situated as nearly as possible in the center of the north island.